From CDLs to Military Freight: The Work of Restoring Integrity to Trucking

Fraud has no place in trucking. Neither do unqualified drivers, sham training providers, or carriers that game the system.

The Trump Administration's new interagency crackdown is an important step toward restoring accountability. It also creates an opportunity to finish the job by strengthening CDL integrity, securing military freight, and closing the loopholes that allow unsafe carriers to conceal their records.

That is why ATA applauds President Trump, Vice President Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, and federal law enforcement officials for bringing a whole-of-government approach to this challenge.

But executive action alone is not enough. Lasting reform requires Congress and federal agencies to finish the job.

Pass Dalilah's Law

The next step is for Congress to pass Dalilah's Law.

ATA endorsed this legislation when it was introduced and continues to advocate for its passage. The bill would reinforce English-language proficiency requirements, alert carriers when a CDL becomes invalid, and tighten oversight of training providers.

These provisions reflect longstanding ATA priorities that our federation has consistently pursued alongside DOT across multiple administrations. ATA's support for Dalilah's Law stems from our determination to see these commonsense safeguards permanently enshrined in federal law.

Dalilah's Law is an important part of a broader effort led by ATA to strengthen CDL testing, training, and enforcement, which includes closing gaps involving non-domiciled licenses and illegal cabotage.

Enacting Dalilah's Law-along with these other reforms-would enhance the integrity of our CDL system and instill confidence in the qualifications of commercial drivers. Together, these measures would deliver greater consistency, stronger accountability, and lasting protections for everyone who shares the road.

The Pentagon Must Secure Its Freight System

A robust enforcement framework should also apply to freight that is moved in support of our national defense.

ATA members that transport military freight have raised serious concerns about weaknesses in the Pentagon's freight transportation system. Those concerns include reports of shipments being awarded to providers that lack valid operating authority, required insurance, or the demonstrated capacity to perform the work. ATA has also identified concerns involving opaque contracting practices and awards made outside normal competitive processes.

This is bigger than a procurement problem. It is a readiness issue, a national security issue, and a matter of basic stewardship of taxpayer dollars. When a motor carrier transports arms, ammunition, military vehicles, sensitive cargo or other defense freight, the government should know exactly who is moving that shipment and whether that provider is qualified, insured, and compliant.

The Pentagon should fully implement the freight-reform provisions enacted by Congress, strengthen compliance and auditing, create effective channels for reporting violations, and ensure military freight is awarded through fair, transparent, and secure processes.

There cannot be one standard for commercial freight and a weaker standard for freight tied to America's national defense.

Eradicate Chameleon Carriers

Reforms have no teeth if non-compliant carriers can simply reincarnate under a new name and authority. That is why it's critically important that policymakers continue to modernize the systems to vet motor carriers and prevent unsafe operators from repeatedly reinventing themselves.

The ATA federation's Trucking Resurgence action plan calls for an overhaul of America's trucking safety data system, stronger new-entrant oversight, and integrated databases that can detect fraudulent patterns. It also calls for using existing technology and information more effectively, rather than adding new burdens for legitimate carriers.

Congress can advance that work by modernizing FMCSA's registration and fraud-detection capabilities, strengthening identity verification, and ensuring new carriers receive timely, meaningful safety reviews. ATA-backed proposals such as the SAFE Act would help prevent fraudulent operators from hiding behind new identities and exploiting weaknesses in outdated federal systems.

The goal is straightforward: identify bad actors at the front door, not after they have put the public at risk.

Just Getting Started

Real progress is being made. Fraudulent training providers are being removed. High-risk carriers are being investigated. States are strengthening licensing practices. Federal agencies are sharing information and combining their authorities in ways that have been needed for years.

The next phase must lock these gains into law and extend the same expectation of safety, integrity, and accountability across the entire trucking ecosystem. Congress should pass Dalilah's Law. The Pentagon should secure its freight network. DOT and Congress should close the revolving door that allows chameleon carriers to escape accountability.

ATA will continue working with the Trump Administration, Congress, state officials, and law enforcement to deliver those reforms.

Safety is the price of admission in trucking. Anyone unwilling to meet that standard should not be in this industry.